Pulling attachment for oil-well derricks.



c. H. OVERLY & O. A. THOMPSON.

PULLING ATTACHMENT FOR OIL WELL DERRICKS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-24. I914.

1,162,392. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

A IA/EY C. H. OVERLY & 0. A. THOMPSON. PULLING ATTACHMENT FOR OIL WELLDERRICKS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.24. 1914. v 1 ,162,392. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

2 SH E-ETS-SHEET 2.

IN [/5 N TORS C.H. Overly and OAThon-sorz rin'rrnn srArEsrA nn'r osmon.

CHARLES HERMAN OVERLY AND UVVEN ALONZO THOMPSON, OF INDEPENDENCE,KANSAS, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-FOURTH TO W. W. CURTIN, OE INDEPENDENCE,KANSAS, AND (ENE-FOURTH 'IO THOMAS G. LANEY, OF ERIE, KANSAS.

PULLING ATTACHMENT FOR, OIL- ELL DERR-ICKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 24', 1314. Serial No. 878,876.

1 b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. OVERLY ing is a specification. 10

This invention relates to pulling attach ments for oil well derricks andisdesigned as an improvement in the pulling machines on which we securedUnited States Patents +t1,110,003 and #l,l10,00l on September 8,

' 191%, which machines are chiefly for use in connection with wells fromwhich the derricks have been removed, though they may, wit-l1 sometrouble, be used on bobtailed derricks, it being understood that abobtailed derrick is one from which has been removed the engine, boiler,walking beam and bullreel employed in the drilling of the well and thesinking of the tubing and rods therein.

Before the derrick is bobtailed, it is customary to pump it for a timethrough the operation of the walking beam, and after being bobtailed itis pumped by meansof a shackled rod line from a power house, largenumber of wells being thus pumped from such power house. Ordinarily thebobtailed derricks of such wells are each equipped with a small pullreel, for the purpose of pulling the tubing and rods by means ofhorsepower, which rods are idle for the greater part of their period ofservice because of the infrequency of the pulling operations. It willthus be evident that there is considerable expense attached to theequipment of a larger number of derricks with such pull reels.

The appliances of our former patents, hereinbefore identified, are ofgreat value for use with wells from which the derricks have been removedand can be used on bobtailed derricks lacking the small or special pullreels, but we have found that it is extremely desirable to not onlyproduce a con veniently portable and easily set up pulling attachmentfor use on bobtailed derricks, but one which can be used for eitherlight or heavy service, that is, one which will combine the functions ofthe appliances of both patented structures.

Our object, therefore, is to produce a single appliance of relativelysmall, light and compact construction, which can be used for light orheavy work, be easily and quickly transported from one derrick toanother as needed, and easily and quickly set up or taken down and becontrolled with absolute safetyby a single operator.

With thisgeneral object in view, the invention consists in certain noveland peculiar features of construction and organization as hereinafterdescribed and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood,reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which: I i vFigure 1, is a side elevation of a bobtailed derrick equipped with apulling attachment, embodying our invention. Fig. 2, is an outer faceView of the attachment. Fig. '3, is a sectionon the line 1IIIII of Fig.2. Fig. 4C, is a similar section with certain parts differentlypositioned to show the operation when light work is being performed.Fig. 0, IS a similar view lllustratlve of the op eration when heavy workis being done. Fig. 6, is a fragmentary perspective view to show thearrangement and relation of certain of the parts of the attachment. Fig.7, is a detailed perspective view of the controlling lever. Y

In the said drawings, 1 are parallel beams provided at their lower endswith notches 2 and at their upper ends with notches 3 for purposeshereinafter disclosed. Near their lower ends the beams are connected byparallel cross pieces 4 and near their upper ends by parallel crosspieces 5, the latter and one of the cross pieces 4 being disposed at theouter edges of the beams 1. Extending transversely of the frame thusconstituted and journaled in sliding boxes 6, mounted in brackets 7-,secured on the outer edges of the beams, is a shaft 8, and forconvenience of portability carrying wheels 9 are mounted on the outerends of said shaft, one of which wheels it is advisable to remove whenthe appliance is attached to a derrick, in the manner hereinafterexplained. The attachment travels upon the wheels 9 from one derrick toanother and at such time is equipped with a tongue, not shown, asforming no'part of the invention, and when about I to be arranged inoperative position, the machine is backed up close to the side of thederrick. The tongue is then removedand the machine Patented Nov. 30,1915.

is secured to the derrick in a manner-hereinafter explained.

Journaled' upon the shaft between the beams lis a reel, composed of adrum 10 to which one end of the pulling and lowering cable 11 issecured. At one side of drum 10 is a larger drum 12, the inner flange ofwhich is provided with a notch 12. For performing very light work, suchas raising a few sections of pumping rods, the cable 11 can be slippedthrough the notch 12 so that it will wind upon the drum 12 which, beingof greater diameter than drum 10, enables the light work to be performedmore rapidly than it could be performed by winding the cable upon drum10. At the opposite side of drum 10 is a large drum 13 to, which one endof the ground line 13 is secured, this line or cable being woundreversely on the reel, with respect to the cable 11, so that when thedraft animals are driven forward they unwind ground line or cable 13 forthe purpose of winding cable 11 on drum l0. Reverse travel of the draftanimals will permit the load of rods or tubing on the cable 11 toreverse the described operation of the drums.

Forming the outer sides or walls of drums 12 and 13 are brake wheels 14for the reel, and arranged adjacent the peripheries of said wheels arebrake bands 15, connected together by a tie bar 15, arranged betweenbeams 1 so that the latter shall guard against disarrangement of thebrake bands with respect to the brake wheels. The outer ends of thebrake bands terminate in inturned lips 16 connected by angle bolts 17 toangle plates 18, secured to the cross piece at at the outer edges of thebeams 1. The upper ends of the plates 18 are bolted as at 19 to thebrake bands, and for purposes of adjustment, the said plates areprovided with longitudinal slots 20, through which the bolting membersextend. This connection between the brake bands and the anchoring plates18 is to provide for adjustment or take up of the hands when the brakewheels 14 are appreciably reduced in diameter through wear. The oppositeends of the brake bands are connected pivotally as at 21 to a transversecrank shaft 22, the operative connection being made to a pair of similarcranks 23 of said shaft. The latter is journaled in bearings 24, securedto what may be termed the inner of the pair of cross pieces 1.

Journaled in a pair of bearing plates 25, secured to the outer crosspiece 4 is a cranked rock shaft 26, and pivot-ally and slidinglyengaging the cranked portion of the said rock shaft are the slottedlower ends of a pair of links 27 which extend upward through the lowerportions of the brackets 7 and are pivotally attached to the lower endsof the bearing boxes 6,'the slots or openings in the lower ends of thebrackets 7 being sufiiciently large to permit the links to assume theangular positions indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, through theoperation of the rock shaft 26, as hereinafter explained.

28 are helical springs mounted upon the links 27 and secured at theirupper ends to said links and hearing at their lower ends upon washers 29resting upon the rock shaft. By reference to Figs. 3 and 5 moreparticularly, it will be apparent'that the pivotal point of connectionbetween the rock shaft and the links 27 is sli 'htl r inward withrespect to the plane occupied by the axes of said shaft and the reel,that is to say, said pivotal point of connection is off center, and toestablish and maintain this relation of said parts as long as desirable,a retractile spring 30 connects the cranked portion of the shaft 26 withone of the beams 1. The spring is preferably secured to the beam bymeans of a hook 31 driven into the inner edge of the beam.

The operating lever 32 is arranged adjacent and preferably outward ofone of the beams 1 and has a pivot portion terminating in an inwardlyprojecting crank arm 31, said pivot portion 33 being journaled inbearing plates 35 secured to the outer cross piece 4t at the inner sidethereof, and said crank arm 3% is pivotally connected by a link 36 withone of the cranks 23 of the shaft 22. It will thus be seen when thelever 32 is swung to the right in Fig. 3, iteifects the application ofthe brake bands to the brake wheels as indicated in Fig. and thatcontinued movement of the lever to substantially' the position which itoccupies in Fig. -l results, through the downward pressure imposed bythe brake bands on the brake wheels, in moving the reel as a wholedownward, the springs 28 being compressed in suchoperation, as indicatedin Fig. 4, and it will be likewise obvious that relaxa tion of the powerapplied to lever 32 permits the compressed springs 28 to re'e'levate thereel.

The construction as described is adapted for the performance of lightwork, and to adapt it to the performance of heavy work a bar 37 ispivoted to one of the cranks 23 and is provided in one edge with anelongated notch 38. \Vhen heavy work is to be performed this notched baris swung from the inoperative position shown in Fig. 3 to the positionshown in Fig. 5, which disposes its notched edge downward with the crankof shaft 26 engaging said notch. lVhen the lever is in normal position,as shown by Fig. 3, the outer wall of the notch is against the crankedportion of said shaft 26, and as the lever is operated it applies thebrake bands to the brake wheels, as explained, and, at the same time,adjusts bar 37 until the rear wall of its notchis in engagement withment of the lever continues said bar shall break the off centerconnection between the shaft 26 and the reel and cause said shaft toswing outwardly to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, itbeing understood that as this occurs the reel is moved downward withoutcompressing springs 28, because the links 27 swing outward, as indicatedby dotted lines in the last-named figure, to accommodate the downwardmovement of the reel.

As hereinbefore explained, the machine, while still equipped with twowheels 9, is backed up closeto the derrick 39 and after the tongue hasbeen removed the wheeled frame is tiltec downward at its rear end until.the notched lower ends of the beams are adjacent the flooring l0 of thederrick. r block and tackle connection is then made between a ring 41 onthe upper part of the frame and the opposite side of the derrick, asindicated diagrammatically by cable as and tackle block 43, so that byhauling upon said cable and suitably guiding the frame, the notches 2 ofthe latter can be caused to engage the adjacent edge of the flooring andthe frame tilted until its upper notches 3 receive the first girt of theadjacent side of the derrick. The frame is then secured in any suitablemanner to the derricx and the elevating tackle for the cable as may beremoved. The pulling cable l1 is then carried over the crown wheel 45 ofthe derrick and the free end of the said cable is connected by thecustomary hook withthe bail or eye of an elevator, which in turn isconnected in the usual manner tothe rods or tubing to be pulled from orlowcred into the well. The hook, elevator and rod or tubing is notillustrated on described in detail as such parts are shown and describedina general way in applicants patents hereinbefore identified, to whichreference is here made. Furthermore, the connection between a pullingcable and the parts to be raised orlowered is ofcommon and well knownconstruction and needs no illustration or detailed description.

Whenit is desired to pull a load, such as rods .or tubing which arelighter than the reel. the parts are arranged as shown most clearly inFigs. 3 and l, in which figures it isnoted the notched bar 37. occupiesan inoperative position. To pull such load an elevator is placed underthe knuckle, not shown, on a rod projecting above the top of the wellcasing, not shown. The hook on the cable is then attached to theelevator and the horses driven to utilize the ground line to turn thereel and thus wind the lifting cable thereon to raise the rod until thenext joint appears abovethe casing. The lever is then operated toapplythe brake bands to the brake wheels. A second elevator is thenfitted on the second rod below the knuckle thereof and the operatoreases the load downward until the weight is imposed on the top of thecaslng. The.

first rod is then removed and the pulling cable attached .to the secondelevator, after which the horses are started again to raise the loaduntil the upper end of the third rod is abovefthe casing, when theactions described are repeated. The pulling operation described is thesame with the tubing of the well. For placing rods in the well, afterhaving first elevated the first joint of the rods or tubing in line withthe well by means of the pulling cable, the operator grasps the brakelever and eases off until the joint is lowered until an elevator placedunder the first knuckle rests upon the cas-v ing. Another joint is thenraised to an up.- right position over the first joint. It is nownecessary to make a kick off, that is to say, the rod suspended in thewell from the casing must be raised slightly in order to permit thefirst mentioned elevator to be withdrawn. To accomplish this theoperator grasps and turns the reel enough to take up any slack which maybe in the pulling cable and then. applies the brake to give control ofthe reel. The operation. of the brake lever is then continued to effectthe depression of the reel and the compression of springs 28, if thework being performed is light, that is to say, if the work is lighterthan the reel which ordinarily weighs approximately seven or eighthundred pounds. This action. of course, is performed after the jointattached to the pulling cable is coupled to the joint supported from thecas ing, and bv thus raising both joints of the rod the elevatorsupporting the joint or joints within the well can be removed. Theaction described is known as the kick off operation.

The actions described are repeated until the entire line of rods islowered, unless the line is so long that the load becomes very heavy, inwhich event the operator swings the notched. bar to operative position,as shown in Fig. 5. hen this is done the subsequent manual operationsare as described.

buteach time a kick off is made, the bar 37 breaks the joint between therock shaft 26 and the reel to avoid the necessity of compressing thespring in making the kick off, which would merely represent that muchadditional force which the operator would be compelled to exert, inorder to make the kick off, it being understood that in light work thesprings are desirable because the load is ordinarily insufficient torelevate the reel, and because the force which it is necessary for theoperator to exert in compressing the spring is'but little more than thatrequired for the lifting of the load.

This attachment is adaptable instantly to in operation by :the operatoras distin-- gulshed from the pulling machines employing wheel pegs,ratchet levers 'or kinking devices. t

This device, in addition to the advantage of performing the functions ofboth of our prior structures is also of smaller and more compact andhence more conveniently portable construction. Furthermore, it can beset up or taken down with greater ease and facility on bobtailedderricks.

From the above description it will beapparent that we have produced apulling attachment for oil well derricks which embodies the features ofadvantage enumerated as desirable and while we have illustrated anddescribed the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to beunderstood that we reserve the right to make such changes as properlyfall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

\Ve claim 1. A pulling attachment for oil well derricks, comprising asuitable frame, a windmg mechanism thereon, a movable ournal support forthe winding mechanism, a rock shaft mounted on the support, a linkconnection between the rock shaft and said journal support, manuallyoperable means for depressing the journal support and winding mechanism,and yielding means for preventing the accidental operation of said rockshaft when the winding mechanism is depressed.

2. A pulling attachment for oil well der ricks, comprising a suitableframe, a winding mechanism thereon, a movable journal support for thewinding mechanism, a rock shaft mounted on the support, a linkconnection between the rock shaft and said journal support, bra-kingappliances for the windmg mechanism, manually operable means foroperating the braking appliances to prevent rotation of the windingmecha nism and then causing said appliances to effect depression of thewinding mechanism, and yielding means for. preventing accidentaloperation of said rock shaft until the braking operation has beenperformed.

3. A pulling attachment for oil well derricks, comprisin a suitableframe, a rock shaft mounted thereon, and provided with an upwardlyprojecting crank, journal boxes above and pivotally linked to the crankof the rock shaft and adapted for up and down movement on the frame, thelinks having endwise slidable movement with respect to the crank shaft,springs mounted on the links and supported by the crank of the rockshaft and exerting upward pressure on the links to hold the journalboxes normally elevated, a winding mechanism ournaled 1n sald boxes, anda manually oper able means for depressing the journal boxes against theresistance of said springs.

.4. A pulling attachment for oil well derricks, composing a suitableframe, a rock shaft mounted thereon, and provided with an upwardlyprojecting crank, journal boxes aboveand pivotally linked to the crankof the rock shaft and adapted for up and down movement on the frame, thelinks having endwise slidable movement with respect to the crank shaft,springs mounted on the links and supported by the crank of the rockshaft and exerting upward pressure on the links to hold the journalboxes normally elevated, a winding mechanism j ournaled in said boxes,yielding means for holding the crank of said shaft off center withrespect to the plane occupied by the axis of said shaft and of thejournal boxes, and manually operable means for depressing the journalboxes against the resistance of said springs.

5. A pulling attachment for oil well der ricks, comprising a suitableframe, a rock shaft mounted thereon, and provided with an upwardlyprojecting crank, journal boxes above and pivotally linked to the crankof the rock shaft and adapted for up and down movement on the frame, thelinks having endwise slidable movement with respect to the crank shaft,springs mounted on the links and supported by the crank of the rockshaft and exerting upward pressure on the links to hold the journalboxes normally elevated, a winding mechanism journaled in said boxes,and a manually operable means for depressing'the journal boxes againstthe resistance of said springs, in combination with means adapted foractuation by said manually operable means to operate said crank shaftand thereby leave the winding mechanism and said journal boxes free tomove or to be moved downwardly.

6. A pulling attachment for oil well der ricks, comprising a suit-ableframe, a rock shaft mounted thereon, and provided with an upwardlyprojecting crank, journal boxes above and pivotally linked to the crankof the rock shaft and adapted for up and down movement on the frame, thelinks having endwise slidable movement with respect to the crank shaft,springs mounted on the links and supported by the crank of the rockshaft and exerting upward pressure on the'links to hold the journalboxes normally elevated, a winding mechanism jour naled in saidv boxes,and a manually operable means for depressing the journal boxes againstthe resistance of said springs, in combination with means'adapted foractua tion by said manually operable means to operate said crank shaftand thereby leave the winding mechanism and said iournal boxes free tomove or to be moved downwardly, and braking appliances for the windingmechanism connected to said manually operable means to be actuated tolock the winding mechanism against rotation prior to the operation ofthe crank shaft.

7. A pulling attachment for oil well derricks, comprising a. suitableframe, arock shaft mounted thereon provided with an upwardly projectingcrank, journal boxes mounted on the frame for up and down movement,links pivoted to the journal boxes and provided with longitudinal slotsreceiving the crank of the rock shaft, a winding mechanism journaled insaid boxes, and brake wheels forming a part of the winding mechanism,springs mounted on the links and resting on the crank of said shaft andengaging the links to hold the journal boxes normally elevated, brakebands adja- 7 cent the brake wheels and anchored at one end to saidframe, a shaft provided with cranks pivotally connected to the oppositeends of said bands, a manually operable lever mounted on the frame andprovided with a crank arm, a link pivotally connecting said arm tooperate said crank shaft when said lever is operated to operate thebraking mechanism, a bar pivotally mounted on the crank shaft andprovided with a notch in its under side receiving the crank of said rockshaft and adapted under the operation of said lever to slideinoperatively on the crank shaft and then under the continued operationof said lever to impart roshaftmounted thereon provided with an upwardlyprojecting crank, journal boxes mounted on the frame for up and downmovement, links pivoted to the journal boxes and provided withlongitudinal slots receiving the crank of the rock shaft, a windingmechanism journaled in said boxes, and brake wheelsforming a part of thewinding mechanism, springs mounted on the links and resting on the crankof said shaft and engaging the links to hold the journal boxes normallyelevated, brak'e bands adjacent the brake wheels and anchored at one endto said frame, a shaft provided with cranks pivotally connected to theopposite ends of said bands, a manually operable lever mounted on theframe and provided with a crank arm, a link pivotally connecting saidarm to operate said crank shaft when said lever is operated to operatethe braking mechanism, a bar p'ivotally mounted on the crank shaft andprovided with a notch in its under side receiving the crank of the saidrock shaft and adapted under the operation of said lever to slideinoperatively on the crank shaft and then under the continued operationof said lever to impart rotation to the rock shaft to permit the brakebands to pull the winding mechanism downward, and a retractile springfor resisting the rotation of the shaft by said notched bar.

In testimonywhereof we aflix our signa tures, in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES HERMAN OVERLY. Ol/VEN ALONZO THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

ERMA F. MATT EWS, Rosin \VILKERsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe v Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. l

